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Princeton real estate blog - what would you like to read?

To provide relevant information to my readers I need to understand what issues are on their minds. Princeton real estate blog has two audiences: people who are interested in Princeton Real Estate and my AR colleagues who want to stay on top of their game through this forum. As a real estate professional it is relatively easy for us to come up with content interesting to others in the profession. But what does the public in general want to learn from us?

Marketers use Focus groups to get a handle on the consumer wants. I asked one person in my Focus group: What would you like to know about Princeton Real Estate?” His answers made me wander and pause. This is what he said.

He would not be looking for an agent through a blog. He would be asking for referrals from his friends.

He would be using Realtor.com to look for homes.

The blog’s benefit as he saw it– it could show my expertise to the potential buyers and sellers, after I meet them.

Whad Do You Want To Read? One person is not enough for a Focus Group. I would like to ask all Rainers to put their General Public hat on and ask: “What are the 5 main topics the public wants to learn from a real estate blog?” We have 45,000 savvy consumers here on AR. Let’s help ourselves to better hear our audience's pulse.

Let me open this discussion, by summarizing what I wrote about so far for my consumer readers:

Unique ways to understand what is going on with home prices and what are the expectations for the future

Factors affecting successful sale (not the usual "tips")

FSBO - information that can help in their marketing

What type of housing is available in different communities within various budgets

My community: benefits to living here, places I find interesting

I ask consumers who are reading this post the same question: “How can I serve you better? What would you like to know about Real Estate?” Is it community information not available elsewhere, market conditions, economy and how it relates to local housing, issues specific to selling or buying, none of the above, etc?.” Make us smarter about your needs, so we can make you smarter about your biggest investment.

Posted by Faina Sechzer - Princeton, Montgomery, Hopewell, NJ Real Estate Expert on 09/16/2007 03:34 PM

Comments (16)

princeton nj real estate blog, princeton nj real estate buyers, princeton nj real estate sellers

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16 Comments on Princeton real estate blog - what would you like to read?

SEP

2007

Faina, Thank you for reminding us all the real reason why we are involved with Activerain. And that is so that the general public will know that we exist, that we care, and that we are the professionals who can assist them. Your post is intriguing. We do have to take into consideration how he general public thinks before getting involved with this blogging business.

FS,

For starters they want honesty!

Marie - you are so right, we want to transmit these ideas. The question is - what content best communicates it.

I think you hit it right on the nose. I've been blogging about (at the very least brainstorming) of non-real estate related blogs. Let me explain... I just wrote a blog on the history of Queens, NY and also one on the Queens Center Mall (the largest mall out here). During the research phase, I found out that Queens played a role in the Revolution of the United States, I also found out that the British Armies "Quartered" the homes of the residents against their will (this is why the 3rd Amendment was created to protect us from this war tactic). They ravaged the county for an entire seven years and there was barely anything left standing when we won. Another interesting fact is- it was the World's Fair of 1939-1940 that originally put Queens county on the map! Of course at the end of the blog I leave links to my sites to redirect buyers and sellers. The area in which I service has also produced quite a few famous people that anyone and everyone would recognize (movie-stars) and I'm putting together a blog for that. In the next days it will be available for the residents of my area and to the AR community. Best of Luck.

Vincent - that's a very interesting approach -write about non-real estate . My kids always tell me how real estate is booooring.lol.

BTW -Just yesterday I was at the Washington Crossing Park in Pa and saw the house which provided ferries to Washington to cross Delaware on his way to win at Trenton. Thanks for your ideas.

Scott - could not agree more.

Faina,

I believe that a blog is a 'web journal', a type of diary where you're sharing your personal and professional insights with those who are interested enough in you to read your post. By continuously visiting your posts they will hopefully get to know and respect you and your opinions.

Without some degree of vulnerability, I believe posts are ineffective. Thanks, Fran

Fran - I agree, blog is a way for people to get to know the writer. I am just trying to get a better sense, as to what topics the readers find interesting.

SEP

2007

Faina, I think that readers of blogs, like anything else, like them to be fun to read, to reflect who the writer is, and to provide (not necessarily in all posts, but at least some) a bit of useful information. I think that Fran's reminder that it is a sort of a journal, or "a day in the life". And I'm just trying to have a good time with it.

Patricia - thanks. Fun has to absolutely be part of it, otherwise my kids tell me "real estate is so boooring". The question for me is what in "a day in my life" could be of interest to others and what would not. My blog is not my personal diary, it's all about real estate for someone out there who may be interested. The better I know what these interests are, hopefully the more interesting and focused my posts can be.

No matter what the topic. I want it short! Just make an honest point and make it quick. I read a lot of blogs, I think they are great learning tools, but honestly, some of these people just go too crazy with them. They write a short novel with 50 outside links. I don't know about you but I don't have an hour to spend reading one blog and checking all their links.

Frankly if it's more then 3 or 4 paragraphs, I've lost interest and moved on, or I don't even bother to start reading it.

Rebeca - I am with you on short. Especially real estate - for anyone outside of it and those of us in it -it could get boring real quick. I do find links helpful sometimes, for example if I can learn something I otherwise wouldn't. if it's pure self-promotion probably better without it.

Faina, I have wondered that myself. I find that most of my local audience wants to know about local news, local events, buyer and seller tips, market statistics, and gather general information about the area. I am sure this is nothing original. I just see these pots on my other blog generating the most hits.

I know that when I am reading a blog, I want something that relates to me. I also want to get an idea of the personality of the writer.

Lane - I am the same way. it's hard to fake the writer's personality. I would not know how to do it, even if I tried. Finding the topics that the readers will connect with is what I am looking for. Thanks.

I want something original, creative, and captivating! Something that is intriguing and makes me want to read MORE MORE MORE!

Michael - I want that too. Thanks.

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